Compare towns
Deerfield vs Gorham vs Merrimac
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Merrimac has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Deerfield | Gorham | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,158 |
2,682Lowest |
6,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6 33% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Merrimac and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14k 31% above U.S. |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$123,054±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37k 25% above U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318 6% below U.S. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,352±$325Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Merrimac and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 87% above U.S. |
$4,334Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$7,399Highest 137% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Merrimac and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Deerfield and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #156 of 282 in MA | #57 of 120 in NH | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.